Tom Isaacs is a contemporary artist and curator working primarily in the fields of performance and textile art. His practice draws from psychoanalytic theory, philosophy, religious and ritual practices, and art history to explore themes of mental illness, mortality, and the human condition. He is currently a PhD candidate at Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney University, researching the relationship between ritual, psychoanalysis and body art, and how these different streams of thought address the problem of alienation. Recent exhibitions include: 'SEWNUP' at Lyttleton Stores curated by Fiona Davies in 2020; 'BLUE' at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre curated by Beata Geyer in 2020; and BLUE TOO at WAYOUT curated by Beata Geyer in 2021.
For the 2008 Undergraduate Degree Show at Sydney College of the Arts I presented three works under the collective heading, Collected (2008). These works were linked by themes of meditation and maturation, struggle and spiritual growth. Quercus/Augustus is a meditation on the tree as a motif for ascension. This tree encompasses many ideas, like Beuys’ … More Collected
As an honours student in the SPI studio at Sydney College of the Arts I was required to write a research paper to complement my artistic practice. The aim for this paper was to present the major themes of my work and to ground my practice in a larger conceptual framework. The main thrust of … More Research and Development
At the opening night of the National Tertiary Art Prize I had an interesting conversation about the current popularity of video art. One theory is that the invention and dissemination of LCD televisions has returned video to the pictorial realm. Wall mounted flat screen video is the new painting; framed, contained. One could argue that … More Tele-Vision
My performance video, Circumcision, was selected for the exhibition of finalists in the 2008 National Tertiary Art Prize! The exhibition opens at 6pm on Thursday, November 6 at the UTS Loft Bar, No. 15 Broadway and the winners will be announced at 6:45pm. The show runs from 6 November – 13 November, I’d love for … More NTAP 2008
As an art student it is often necessary to talk and write about your work. I have heard this is also true for practicing artists. In my time at university I have never experienced significant trouble meeting these expectations. I have always particularly enjoyed talking about my work whether it be informally, with friends, family … More Heavy Criticism
Untitled was a group show at At The Vanishing Point in Newtown, showcasing undergraduate art in Sydney. My contribution to the show was a video installation, Leviathan/Ouroboros. The following is an excerpt from my Honours research paper: The work refers to the hermetic concept of a life divided into polar opposites to explain our feelings … More Untitled Understood
lampoon /lampoon/ • verb publicly satirize or ridicule. • noun a satirical attack. — ORIGIN French lampon, said to be from lampons ‘let us drink’. Mike Parr and Peter Kennedy’s 1972 film Idea Demonstrations sits with commanding gravitas at the headwaters of Australian performance and conceptual art history. The film documents a series of twenty-four … More Seminal Fluids
Sach and I have a work in a show! Seminal Fluids The opening is on Wednesday, August 20 (from 6-8pm) at FirstDraft. The address is 116-118 Chalmers St, Surry Hills. There will also be an artists talk on Saturday, September 6 at 4:30pm. The show runs from 20 August – 6 September, we’d love for … More One Below Parr
I have a work in a group show! Untitled The opening is on Thursday, August 7 (from 6 – 9pm) at At The Vanishing Point. The address is 565 King St, Newtown. The show runs from 7 – 24 August, I’d love for you to come along and check it out.
My Body, My Business was a group show at At The Vanishing Point in Newtown, dealing with issues relating to the body. My contribution to the show was a video of my performance, Circumcision. It was accompanied by a small artist’s statement: The performance piece, Circumcision, explores notions of catharsis and the possibility of its … More My Body, My Business
Tom Isaacs 